The Deep End With Lecrae The Pastor Christianity Wasn’t Ready For - Erwin Raphael McManus
Aug 28, 2025
Erwin Raphael McManus, a pastor and cultural architect known for his innovative approach to faith, shares his compelling journey from immigrant to influential leader. In this candid discussion, he confronts the challenges of being a misunderstood figure in Christianity. Their conversation dives into the need for creativity and imagination within the church, the complexities of faith communication, and the immigrant experience reshaping political views. Erwin emphasizes the importance of nuance and individuality in spiritual expression, tackling how heresy may evolve into orthodoxy over time.
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Formative Spiritual Search
- Erwin grew up in an irreligious but spiritually curious home and explored Buddhism, Judaism, and myth as a child.
- He spent childhood in psychiatric care, disappeared into imaginary worlds, and later studied philosophy seeking meaning.
How He First Believed
- Erwin went to volleyball for girls and unexpectedly encountered Jesus through the message of a pursuing God.
- He committed from desperation and later judged the encounter by decades of changed inner life and fruit.
Communication Happens By Frequency
- People communicate on different frequencies and trust voices that match their own wavelength.
- Erwin felt like the 'loneliest whale' singing at another frequency inside conventional church culture.
